William D. Connor
Encyclopedia
William Duncan Connor was Lieutenant Governor
of Wisconsin
from 1907 - 1909. He was a Republican
.
In 1872 he moved with his parents from Canada to a farm in Auburndale, Wisconsin
. He attended the State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
for two years. He moved to Marshfield, Wisconsin
in 1895. He was a successful lumberman and real estate investor in Wisconsin and the Pacific Northwest, among other achievements he established the towns of Laona, Wisconsin
, Stratford, Wisconsin
, and Connorville, Michigan (originally company town
s) in the course of growing his lumber business.
He was also very involved in politics and public service.
He served for twenty years as a member of the Wood County Board of Supervisors, and was twice elected chairman.
In 1892, 1894, 1896, 1902 and 1904 he was elected a delegate to the Republican State Convention and in 1904 he was also elected one of the four (progressive) delegates-at-large to the National Republican Convention, by the regular Republican State Convention. This was the controversial 'gymansium convention' that looms large in the history of the progressive movement in Wisconsin.
According to the 'Dictionary of Wisconsin Biography':
He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1906, receiving 174,750 votes against 104,398 for Michael F. Blenski (Democratic), 25,036 for William Kaufmann (Social Democrats), 8,724 for August F. Fehlandt (Progressive) and 510 for John Veirthaler (Socialist Labor).
. He, along with Marinette lumberman Isaac Stephenson
, were La Follette's two main political backers from the business community. Both of these millionaire lumbermen were at the financial mercy of the railroad interests in the state, which then had monopolies on industrial transportation.
"Fighting Bob" La Follette's strong stand against the railroads was very appealing to the lumber industry. Equally important to Connor and Stephenson; each man believed La Follette had promised to help them become a U.S. Senator when La Follette became Governor. Instead, and to their chagrin, at the first opportunity (January 1905) La Follette famously nominated himself to the U.S. Senate and arranged State Senate confirmation. Neither ever forgave La Follette.
La Follette kept serving as Governor and left Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seat unfilled until January 1, 1906, when he resigned to join the U.S. Senate. He publicly proclaimed this unusual action was done to ensure that his 1904 platform was enacted in Wisconsin.
After serving as Lt. Governor, W.D. withdrew from state-wide elective politics, although he remained active at the local and county level. He was to serve for twenty years on the Wood County Board.
Mr. Connor was president of the Marshfield library board from its organization in 1901 until his death, he was also a trustee of Carroll College (Wisconsin)
.
William D. Connor was the grandfather of Melvin R. Laird
and the great-grandfather of Jessica Laird Doyle, wife of Governor Jim Doyle
of Wisconsin
.
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
from 1907 - 1909. He was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
In 1872 he moved with his parents from Canada to a farm in Auburndale, Wisconsin
Auburndale, Wisconsin
Auburndale is a village in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 738 at the 2000 census.-History:Auburndale was established in 1872 by Robert Connor, father of William D...
. He attended the State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...
for two years. He moved to Marshfield, Wisconsin
Marshfield, Wisconsin
Marshfield is a city in Marathon and Wood counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the largest city in Wood County. The small portion of the city that extends into Marathon County is part of the Wausau Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,800 at the 2000 census. Marshfield is...
in 1895. He was a successful lumberman and real estate investor in Wisconsin and the Pacific Northwest, among other achievements he established the towns of Laona, Wisconsin
Laona, Wisconsin
Laona is a town in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,212 at the 2010 census. The census-designated place of Laona is located in the town...
, Stratford, Wisconsin
Stratford, Wisconsin
Stratford is a village in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,523 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, and Connorville, Michigan (originally company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
s) in the course of growing his lumber business.
He was also very involved in politics and public service.
He served for twenty years as a member of the Wood County Board of Supervisors, and was twice elected chairman.
In 1892, 1894, 1896, 1902 and 1904 he was elected a delegate to the Republican State Convention and in 1904 he was also elected one of the four (progressive) delegates-at-large to the National Republican Convention, by the regular Republican State Convention. This was the controversial 'gymansium convention' that looms large in the history of the progressive movement in Wisconsin.
According to the 'Dictionary of Wisconsin Biography':
He was at first identified with the Robert M. La FolletteRobert M. La Follette, Sr.Robert Marion "Fighting Bob" La Follette, Sr. , was an American Republican politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was the Governor of Wisconsin, and was also a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin...
wing of the party. In the 1904 progressive-stalwart split, Connor was chosen by the "gymnasium convention" as one of the progressive delegates to the Republican national convention. Although the national convention refused to accept the credentials of the Progressive delegation, the La Follette forces were recognized as the legal Republican ticket by the state supreme court (1904) and Connor became chairman of the Republican state central committee. (1904-1908).
He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1906, receiving 174,750 votes against 104,398 for Michael F. Blenski (Democratic), 25,036 for William Kaufmann (Social Democrats), 8,724 for August F. Fehlandt (Progressive) and 510 for John Veirthaler (Socialist Labor).
Falling-Out With La Follette
Later, Connor was to have a significant falling-out with Robert La FolletteRobert M. La Follette, Sr.
Robert Marion "Fighting Bob" La Follette, Sr. , was an American Republican politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was the Governor of Wisconsin, and was also a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin...
. He, along with Marinette lumberman Isaac Stephenson
Isaac Stephenson
Isaac Stephenson was an American politician of the Republican Party who represented Wisconsin as both a United States Representative and a United States Senator....
, were La Follette's two main political backers from the business community. Both of these millionaire lumbermen were at the financial mercy of the railroad interests in the state, which then had monopolies on industrial transportation.
"Fighting Bob" La Follette's strong stand against the railroads was very appealing to the lumber industry. Equally important to Connor and Stephenson; each man believed La Follette had promised to help them become a U.S. Senator when La Follette became Governor. Instead, and to their chagrin, at the first opportunity (January 1905) La Follette famously nominated himself to the U.S. Senate and arranged State Senate confirmation. Neither ever forgave La Follette.
La Follette kept serving as Governor and left Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seat unfilled until January 1, 1906, when he resigned to join the U.S. Senate. He publicly proclaimed this unusual action was done to ensure that his 1904 platform was enacted in Wisconsin.
After serving as Lt. Governor, W.D. withdrew from state-wide elective politics, although he remained active at the local and county level. He was to serve for twenty years on the Wood County Board.
Mr. Connor was president of the Marshfield library board from its organization in 1901 until his death, he was also a trustee of Carroll College (Wisconsin)
Carroll College (Wisconsin)
Carroll University is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian church located in Waukesha in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Carroll opened in 1846, two years before Wisconsin became a state...
.
William D. Connor was the grandfather of Melvin R. Laird
Melvin R. Laird
Melvin Robert Laird is an American politician and writer. Laird was a Republican congressman who also served as Richard Nixon's Secretary of Defense from 1969 to 1973. Laird urged Nixon to maintain a policy of withdrawing US soldiers from Vietnam...
and the great-grandfather of Jessica Laird Doyle, wife of Governor Jim Doyle
Jim Doyle
James Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
External links
- A History of Wood County, George O. Jones, etc., Minneapolis: 1923 Information about William D. Connor and the lumber industry in Wood County, Wisconsin.
- "State of Wisconsin: Office of the Lt. Governor"
- "Dictionary of Wisconsin Biography (at the Wisconsin Historical Society)"
Sources
- Wisconsin Blue Book, 1907, biographical sketch of Lieutenant Governor William D. Connor.
- Laird, Helen L, A Mind of Her Own Helen Connor Laird and Family 1888 - 1982, The University of Wisconsin Press, 2006.